Alleged killer of student appears in court

The man accused of murdering a local high school football player appeared in a Compton courtroom on Wednesday. Dannie Farber, Jr. was shot and killed at a restaurant in Compton last May.The alleged shooter, 21-year-old Arlon Watson, eluded detectives for eight months before they finally caught up to him. Authorities said they were able to use surveillance video from the scene to make a positive ID.

Watson showed up without representation and was quickly assigned a public defender, who asked the court for more time to review the case.

The arraignment has been pushed back to Feb. 9.

Farber, 18, was three weeks away from graduating from Narbonne High School when he was shot to death. Authorities said the high school senior and All-City wide receiver was having dinner with his girlfriend when the suspect walked up to him, asked him what gang he belonged to and started shooting.

"We know that it was gang related," said Det. Eddie Brown of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Witnesses said Farber denied any gang affiliation, and authorities confirmed Farber had no gang ties at all, but he was still fatally shot in front of his girlfriend.

Watson is being held on $2 million bail, and if he is convicted, he could face a maximum of 50 years to life in prison.